Hollister Commits To Arkansas

Updated story with Arkansas getting a commitment Monday from Arizona Western College wide receiver Cody Hollister (6-4, 205), a mid-term graduate who took his official visit Fayetteville last weekend.

Arkansas lost one wide receiver commit on Friday morning, but had another one in place by Monday afternoon.

Arizona Western wideout and mid-term graduate Cody Hollister (6-4, 205) committed to the Razorbacks after returning home and talking to his family after taking his official visit last Thursday to Saturday.

He did so after conferring with Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema and wideouts coach Michael Smith.

Hollister caught 70 passes for nearly 1,000 yards this season with 5 touchdowns and chose Arkansas offers from over Wyoming and Troy and interest from several other schools.

He also had over 2,800 yards receiving and 30 touchdowns combined as a junior and senior at Mountain View High School in Bend, Oregon.

"I really love this school honestly," Hollister said. "...In talking to Coach Bielema and all the other coaches and Coach Smith - the wide receivers coach (who) is really cool – they're just really real with you about your position and how you would be coming in so it's encouraging."

Arkansas made it clear it expects Hollister – who has three years to play three - to come in and contribute immediately as well as Arizona Western tight end Blake Whiteley (6-5, 240), who also visited the Razorbacks last week.

"They talked about me having an opportunity, which is all I need," Hollister said. "I just need
an opportunity to come in and play and if I have that I feel like I'll take an advantage of it."

Hollister, who was a first-team Arizona Community College Athletic Conference selection, got a chance to take in Arkansas' fans Thursday night at The Catfish Hole restaurant.

"That was awesome, the environment especially the food was great, too," Hollister said. "The
steak (and) it was my first time trying catfish. That was interesting. The people are so awesome and really inviting. So it was cool."

He also likes the fact that Arkansas coaches seem real.

"It's good to get a face to a name and to the voice just because you never know it going into it," Hollister said. "All the coaches seem really genuine and actually see how they do when they ...try to persuade you and it seems
really genuine, which is really good."

Hollister, who is 20, was hosted by freshman offensive lineman Dan Skipper.

"I think he's 19 - one year younger than me - but a really chilled dude," Hollister said. "He's just
one of the guys. Makes you feel like one of the guys too."